Ratchet wrench



June 25, 1957 wlLTSEY HAL 2,796,790

RATCHET WRENCH Filed Dec. 20, 1954 INVENTOR. fiZM AED f. M17504 1 0044440 J 6/18/57'EA/50N RATCHET WRENCH Howard E. Wiltsey, Racine, and Donald J. Christensen, Kansasville, Wis., assignors to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 416,415

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-60) This invention relates to a ratchet wrench and especially to one used to rotate a member Where the amount of space is limited. This wrench is especially useful in instances where the rotation is limited to an angle less than 360.

An object of this invention is to provide a ratchet wrench to be used in place of a crank on farm implements or similar machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ratchet wrench to be used where the amount of clearance for its use is limited.

Another object is to provide a ratchet wrench which employs both hands of the operator so as to preserve the balance of the adjusting member.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the grain end of a harvester which, in this instance, is a windrower, and which also shows the invention applied to an adjusting member.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the invention as detached from the harvester of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wrench of Fig. 2, but with parts broken away to show various portions of the mechamsm.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 in this instance shows a windrower having a transport wheel 12 supported on a crank axle 14 and also provided with a platform 16. In this instance, the windrower 10 has an adjusting means 18 which, in this instance, extends upwardly through an opening in the frame of the harvester as shown in Fig. 1. Adjusting means 18 is rotatable and terminates in a means connected to crank axle 14 of the frame of windrower 10, so that crank axle 14 will be rotated about its pivot so as to raise or lower the platform 16 relative to the ground. However, the specific details of the adjusting mechanism need not be described, as it is not part of this invention. It is sufiicient to say that the adjusting means 18 comprises a rotatable adjusting member 29 which extends generally upwardly as shown.

Generally, this invention comprises a ratchet wrench 22 having an elongated socket 24 which, in this instance, is of a square cross section so as to fit member and is made of a length suitable for the purpose. This member 24 can be of standard square tubular stock and cut to the desired length. Member 24 comprises the driving socket and conforms to the shape of adjusting member 20 and fits freely thereover.

The handle of this wrench comprises portions 26 and 28 which, in combination with the tubular socket 24 assumes the shape of a T. Portion 26 in this instance is nited States Patent- ICC portion 26 and has provided thereon a bearing portion 34 which is freely journaled in opening 30, so as ;to permit rotation therein.

Ratchet bushing 32 is provided with a square aperture which freely receives socket 24 so that there is a positive driving of the socket when bushing 32 is rotated. Bushing 32 is provided with peripheral ratchet teeth 36 of a suitable number, the purpose of which will be later described.

A handle portion 28 is provided which is of a suitable leng-th to give sufficient-leverage, and which terminates at one end in a detent 38 having a ratchet tooth 40 that engages ratchet teeth 36. Portion 28 is pivoted in portion 26 for reasons which will appear.

A lower plate 42 is provided which supports ratchet bushing 32 in position against the surface of portion 26. Ratchet bushing 32 has a journal portion 44 similar to portion 34 so as to provide a journal of the ratchet bushing 32 in plate 42. It will be clear that ratchet bushing 32 is provided with journal portions on both sides, namely, 34 and 44, thereby providing adequate support.

A pair of spacer bushings, 46 and 48, are inserted between handle portion 26 and plate 42. Bushings 46 and 48 are of length so as to permit ratchet bushing 32 to rotate freely. A pair of rivets, 50 and 52, are provided which pass through handle member 26, bushings 46 and 48, and plate 42. Rivets 50 and 52 are finally riveted or headed over as shown in Fig. 2, thus securing ratchet bushing 32 between portions 26 and 42. Portion 28 is pivotally secured between plates 26 and 42 on bushing 46 before plate 42 is secured in place.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be apparent that, owing to the pivot about rivet 46, handle portion 28 can rotate. However, when rotating handle 28 in the direction of arrow 54, ratchet tooth 40 of detent 38 will engage one of the notches between teeth 36 of ratchet bushing 32.

It is also clear that a pull on handle portion 28 in a direction opposite to arrow 54 will disengage detent 40 from ratchet bushing 32.

In order to prevent displacement of socket member 24 from ratchet bushing 32, the ends thereof are flared after assembly as at 56 and 58, permitting the ratchet wrench to be axially moved to either end of socket 24 without becoming disassembled: For example, as in Fig. l where it is necessary to shift the ratchet to the extreme end of the socket 24 in order to reach the adjusting member 20. Handle portion 26 is bent downwardly at 59, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in order to provide a stop to prevent handle portion 28 from pivoting to an excessive angle.

It will appear from Fig. 1 that sufficient clearance is not provided so as to rotate a ratchet through a complete 360 angle. Therefore, when adjusting member 20 is to be rotated, the two hands of the operator are placed on handles 26 and 28 and a force exerted on handle 28 in the direction of arrow 54, so as to positively engage detent tooth 40 With ratchet bushing teeth 36. A turn in the direction of arrow 54 will rotate socket 24 and turn adjusting member 20. Obviously, when handle 28 has reached an obstruction in the machine, it can be rotated in the opposite direction, thus disengaging tooth 40 from ratchet tooth 36, whereupon, handle portion 26 is moved about in the same direction as handle 28, thus placing I 3' the wrench in a new position for another partial rotation by moving handle portion 26.

If it is desired to rotate, adjusting member 20 in the opposite direction, the wrench with the socket 24 is removed from the adjusting member 20 and rotated axially 180 and the other end of socket Z4 is then placed on adjusting member 20, sliding the wrench to the other end of socket 24. The wrench is then in position to be used for an adjustment in the opposite direction.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as 'new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: l Y r A ratchet wrench for use with a longitudinal polygonal socket member, comprising a first handle extending in a plane normal to said socket member, a plate spaced from said handle and parallel to the plane thereof, said first handle and said plate having coaxial circular apertures surrounding said socket member, a ratchet bushing disposed intermediate said first handle and said plate and drivingly cooperating with said socket member and provided with circumferentially spaced teeth, and journal portions coacting with said apertures to permit rotation of said bushing, spacer means intermediate said first handle and said plate, a second handle pivoted on one of said spacer means and provided with a detent at the ex- 5 tremity thereof, said second handle being pivotable so that the said detent drivingly engages said teeth when said handle is pivoted in one direction, and disengages from said teeth when said handle is pivoted in the other direction, said first handle being provided with a stop to 10 limit the position of said second handle when the latter is pivoted in the last mentioned direction, said stop being formed integrally with said first handle and normal to the surface thereof. 

